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Friday, March 13, 2015

The Depth of Love

The Depth of Love

Ruth 1:16,17 KJV

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

As the love story of Ruth unfolds, picture these three women traveling along the road toward Bethlehem. Their hearts are broken by death, they’re in despair and most likely afraid. Naomi stops them on their journey and lovingly reminds them of the reality of their devastated lives. She relays to them that she has no more children for them to marry and if she would have children, they would be too young to marry. They would be better off going home to their families then to continue with her.

Orpah, showing great love for Naomi, kisses her mother-in-law good-bye and walks away back to her gods.Ruth is grieved and weeps as Orpah disappears forever out of their sight. With already so much tragedy, suffering and heartache they have endured, to know Orpah, would cease to exist in their lives from this time forward would seem unbearable. Ruth cleaves to her mother-in-law, expressing words of love and devotion to Naomi and to her God. Her words confirm her devoted love for Naomi but most importantly, they show Ruth’s obvious conversion from worshipping Chemosh to the God of Israel, JEHOVAH.

Have you ever wondered how God could save such a sinner as you, as Ruth, or anyone? You will never understand the meaning of the cross, or why Jesus had to die, until you begin to appreciate the depth of love shown in His extreme sacrifice. He was willing to give His life for your eternal salvation, an everlasting love that will not let you go.